Vacuum-operated fuel-feeding apparatus



Dec. 30, 1930.

c. s. BURTON 1,786,700

VACUUM OPERATED FUEL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed oct. 24, 1929 64 /6 6o 5 f5/0j //0 Y f5 Patented Dec.4 3G; 1930.

mame

' canaries mitnimmt or' .osx SPARK, irrigatorev vAcUUIafornn-iersn FUEL-reuniera APPARATUS Appncaunfuea october 24,l 1.929 semi Nu eeaec.

A purpose, among others, of this inven# tion 1s to provide an improved construction of vacuum fuel feeding vdevice adapted for supplying an internal'coinbustion engine, in

which suction .derived from the engine ine the communication so that during the lifting Figure l.

phase of the cycle'of the device, the air and vapor dravvn into the intake manifoldshall be taken from above the fuel in the vacuum chamber, and inthe delivering phase of the cycle, the air and vapor drawn into the. manifold vshallbe takenfroin above the liquid in the 'accumulating chamber; whereby the effect on the fuel mixture in the intake manifold will'not be materially dierent inthe alternating phases of thecranlr'cycle. n

1 Another purposeof the present invention is to provide av construction operating in a manner above stated, in which the access of atmospheric pressure to the vacuum chamber during the emptying phase of the device, may be as much freer than the access ofsuction during the feeding phase as necessary inorder that discharge of fuel from the vacuum chamber in the emptying phase may be prompt and free, not being` retarded by the restricted access Vof air which isdue to having access-of atmosphere and suction equally A restricted. o i i v The invention consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described as indicated in the claims.Y

In the drawings: Figure lois a vertical section of avacuum tank embodying this inventiongbrolien awa-y theview. Y i o,

Figure 2 isa section atI the line 2-2 on Figure `A'3 is aindetail section at; the lille 3.--3V on' Figure l,

ting on: the inner Wall of the latter. l'annular shoulder member is permanently Y constructions. aty the mlddlepart of the height to condense Y Figure e is a section at the line facu Figure 3.'

Referring to the drawings in'r detail: The accumulating chamber is indicatedatA; the shell which constitutes the vacuum chamber isindicated atB, having the usualvalve-'controlled dischargelfittingseen at .C yfor delivering the'fuel into the accumulating chamber from which it may flow by gravity tothe carbureter as indicated by the discharge con nection, D. y o

The vacuum chamber body is `flanged outwardly, `as seen at 20,-for securement to said body of the top plate, 21, which. is made liquid-tight by a gasket, 22, interposed on the flange, 2l, and clamped by screws,'23; The vacuuinchamber is supported in the accumulating chamber by an annular :shoulder element,.E, comprising an annulus, 25, having inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the vacuum chamber, B, and outer diameter corresponding approximately to the diameter of the vacuum chamberrfiange and top plate, said annulus havingthree angle. lugs, 26, 26, 26, one hundred 'f and twenty. de frees (120) apartdimensioned for fitting .Within the accumulating chamber with their doWn-turnedend portions'abut- This mounted in the accumulating ychamberby soldering or spot-Welding the lugs, 26, to the Wallof the chamber; and the vacuum chamber is arranged to be inserted through the open center of the annulus, 25, and supported by lodgeinent of the iiange, 20, on said annulus, 25.

' The vacuum chamber is furnished With a fuel supply connection .consisting of an elbow fitting, 28, which is screwed tightinto a bushing, 29, mounted permanently liquidtight yin .the top plate, 2l, .and carrying a strainer, 30, in ,a familiar manner'vof such Beside the fuel inlet port, 3l, atv which the elbow fitting, 2 8, is connected, andthe fuel discharge port, 32,"at which the di'scharge iitting,y C,'is connected, the vacuum chamber has athird port,-33, in the top plate,

this port. beingI conveniently formed in a small steel disk, 34, which is applied and secured fluid-tight on the top of the plate, 2l, over an aperture, 35, made in the top plate, of any convenient size, which will be con'ipletely covered by the steel plate except as to the port, 33, of said plate. T his method of providing` said third port is adapted for convenience in machining or otherwise suitably finishing the surface of the plate around the port, 33, to make a fluid-tight junction with the terminal of the suction conduit as hereinafter described.

A pipe, 40, constituting the suction conduit, which may be understood as leading to the engine intake manifold (not shown) is mounted in fixed position on the top plate, 9.1, as by means of brackets, 41 and 42, and said suction conduit is provided with a terminal inlet member, 43, which is movably mounted directly over the third port, 33, of the vac-y uum chamber andinovable vertically to carry its inlet port, 44, into and out of junction with said third port, `33, of the vacuum chamber.

This suction conduit terminal member, 43, has its vertical duct passage closed at the upper end and open laterally, as seen at the port, 45. at the side of said terminal member atwhich it makes junction with the fitting, 46, provided for connection of the terminal, 43, with the lixedly mounted suction conduit member, 40, having a port, 47, which is lapped by the port, 45, to the full area of the latter port at the position of the terminal, 43, at which the ports, 44 and 33, are in junction. Said fitting, 45, serves also to stop the suction conduit member, 40, against longitudinal displacement, which is effected by abut-ting said fitting, 45, a gaiust the bracket, 32, seen in Figure y The suction conduit terminal, 43, is held in Huid-tight junction with the fitting, 45, by the spring element of a snap action pro` vided for causing the desirabl)7 instantaneous shifting of the suction inlet port, 44, of the suction terminal member, 43, into and out of junction with said third port, 33, of the vacuum chamber. This snap action will now be described.

At a short distance to the left of the lugs of the third port, 33, a bracket, 50, mounted on` the top plate, 2l, carries a swivel guide bearing, 5l, for the stem. 52, of a forked yoke, 53, in whose fork the suction conduit inlet terminal, 43, is pivotally engaged, and a spring, 55, coiled about the stem, 52, reacts between the swivel guide bearing, 5l, and the yoke, 53, stressing the suction conduit termi nal, 43, against the fitting, 45, the guide bearing, 5l, being at such level that when the stem, 52, of the yoke, 53, is horizontal, that is, at right angles to the seating faces of the terminal, 43, and fitting 45, the inlet port 44 of the terminal, 43, is very nearly down in junction with the third port, 33, of thefvacuum chamber, so that very slight movement carrying the stem, 52, very slightly below horizontal position, seats the terminal, 43, fluid-tight on the plate, of the vacuum chamber. And upon upward thrust of the terminal carrying the stem, 52, past horizontal position, the reaction of the snap spring quickly completes its upward movement for separating the lower end of the terminal, 43, and the inlet port, 44, thereof, fromi the third port, 33. of

Y the chamber, sothat the two ports, 44 and 33,

are effectively out of junction with each other. being so'far separated that no suction is communicated to the vacuum chamber from the suction conduit, but instead, the suction operating through that conduit, draws in air and vapor from the space` 59 above the vacuum chamber which. is. made effectively a continuation of the fuel accumulating chamber by means of a cover, 60, said space being, however, for convenience of identification, referred to as a third chamber.

The flange, 6l, of a cover, 60, is dimen sioned for fitting snugly, but not necessarily airtight, about the upper end of the shell, B, ofthe accumulating chamber, said fiange being` notched, as seen at- 62 and 63, to accommodate the elbow, 28, and the fixed suction conduit member, 40.

This cover thus completes the enclosure of the third chamber, 59, which is in free communication with the accumulating chamber, A, but is distinguished from the latter by the fact that the fuel will not norma-llvv accumulate above the level at which in the operi tion of the device as hereinafter described, the `lioat, hereinafter mentioned, rising with the liquid, separates the suction conduit terminal and inlet port from the third port, 33, of the vacuum chamber; and therefore liquid will not normally occupy the space, which is accordingly distinguished from the accumulating chamber constituting a third chamber.

lt'will be understood that for desired rapid action to give the apparatus the desired capacity for pumping fuel to the engin-e served, the atmosphere access to the vacuum chamber should be more free than will be afforded by a port no larger than it is pr cticable to make the suction inlet port; and accordingly, as shown, the third port, 33, of the vacuum chamber, which is the atmosphere inlet port, as well as the port of access of suction when the suction inlet port is in junction with it. is shown several times the area of the suction inlet.

It has been observed in the operation of fuel feeding devices of the character come monly called vacuum tanks which have the suction access closed during the emptying phase of the tank that some disturbance of the fuel mixture may result from air flow into the intake manifold during the filling phase which is interrupted in the emptying phase.

his embarrassment is v'designed tobe minimized, and under'some running conditions may be entirely obviated, bythe construction shown, iny which it will be observed that the intakemanitold uninterruptedly derives yfrom the vacuum tank airimiXed more or less with fluid vapor, the mixture being taken from above the tuel in the vacuum chamber during the filling phase ot the tank, and from the third chamber, and thus `trom above the fuel in the accumulating chamber, in the emptye ing phase. Under some circumstances, when the vacuum tank somewhat heated by reason ot its p ronimity to the engine, the mixture thus derived may be'found so approximately uniform in respect to proportiony of air and riiuel vapor, that it may be detinitelytalren into `account in the adjustment oi the carbuieter, and thereby allenibarrassmenttrom disturbance of the mixture may be avoided. ln view of the circumstance that in the lilling phase, while the air is crawn from the vacuum chamber against the resistance due to the degrec of vacuum developed in the chamber for lifting the fuel, andA which is measured by the fuel lift, the quantity of the air and fuel vapor `mis-:ture taken into'the mianitold will usually be less than while it is drawn from the third chamber, `which is always at atmos- Pheric pressure, f Y y Y And in order to provide for equalizing these two quantities, provision is made' for restricting the access to the suction conduit during the emptying phase yrelatively to the ccess during the illing phase. This provision consists in an'a'djustable stop screw, 47, mounted in the fitting, 45, and accessible for adjustment through an aperture, 64, in

the cover, said aperture serving also as ank atmosphere vent for the third chamber. The

screw at the lowest adjustment will stop the Y terminal, 43, in the movementfor separating the ports, 44 and 33,' at position of complete lap of the ports, 46V and 47 and when it is desired to restrict the suction access during the emptying phase, the screw will be adj usted by slight withdrawal, so thatv the` snap action'will Vcarry the terminal a little farther, and reduce Vthe lap of the ports to restrict the air and vtuel vapor access to the desired degree for equalizing the quantity flow, in view ot the dilierence in the resistance mentioned;

` a tloat of inconvenient size in order to have buoyant value adequate for breaking the suctionhold when the float is operating to sepaputtingthe chamber in communication with the atmosphere instead of with the suction.

To obviate this dilliculty, and make the apparatus operable with a conveniently small float, the top plate, 21,0f the vacuum chamber is provided with'ainovable part occupying and closing an aperture, 36, made in the'tc'p plate `for that purpose, said movable part becoming thus a part of the top wallotthe chamber and being movable inwardly and: 0

outwardly with respect to the chamber cavity withouty opening vthe wall at said aperture. Asshown, this movable wall member is a tlexible diaphragm, 7 O, mounted tor closing f around hole, 7l, made in the plate, 2l, the ,7

diaphragm being clamped liquid-tighten the n margin ot said lioleby any convenient means,

as an annular clamp,72; and a lever or" the irst class, as indicated at 75, is connected at one end to said diaphragm, 70, at thercentergg 'ofthe latter,A the other arm oi' the lever being kextended for engagement with an abutment,

77, provided on the suction conduit terminal, 43. at a position for encounter of the lower end i 'ith said abutment inthe movement oit.; 85 y the terminal into junction of the inlet port, 44, with the third port, 33, of Vthe vacuum chamber.y

The parts are dimensioned and positioned outwardly with respect to the chamber biy such encounter, andthe completion or" the movement'of the suction conduit terminal into -full junction of the ports, 44 and 33.?

to causev the diaphragm'to be slightly'tlexediw rlie o )eration of this construction it ma 7i295 be understood, is, that the suction hold on the terminal, 43, due to vacuum in the vacuum tion hold is counterbalanced by the suction on;`

theI diaphragm; and the float need be only, large enough to give it buoyant value adequate to overcome the force of the snap spring operating to hold the terminal, 43, seated in position for junction of the suction inlet and the third port ot' the vacuum chamber.

claim:

I.l ln an apparatus for the purpose indicated comprising afvacuum chamber closed except as to the parts hereinafter mentioned a liquid accumulating chamber having limited atmosphere vent at the top, and a third chamber over `the vacuum chamber in tree atmospheric communication withthe accamulating chamber, the vacuum chamber having at upper and lower parts thereof respectirely, a liquid intlow port and a liquid discharge port having respectively liquid supply cony nection for deriving supply trom a source of rate the inlet port from the third port, for

liquid, and liquid discharge connection foi delivering liquid to the accumulating cham-k ber, the vacuum chamber having at the upper part third port opening into said third chamber; a suction conduit arranged for connection with a source of suction, said suc! tion conduit being mounted in said third chamber and comprising a terminal having an inlet port, said terminal beim),` mounted for movement to carry said inlet port into and out of junction with the third port et 4he vacuumchamberg a iioat in the vacuum chamber, amlmeans operated by the float for m ving` said terminal to carry its said inlet port into and out ot unction with said third port of the vacuum chamber upon the descent and rise oi the float due to the tall and rise of the level ci? the liquid content ot the vacuum chamber to predetermined limits.

2. yThe construction dei'ined in claim l, .hav- .ing the vacuum chamber connected for ply with a source oi'l liquid fuel, and suotion conduit leadiimv to the intake manifold of the engine, whereby the 'engine de more or less charged with fuel v; irom above the fuel in the vacuun'i and also from above the 'it lating` chamber.

3. rlhc construction delined in daim l, the suction conduit terminal. haring its suction inlet port slidingly associated with the adjoining' part oi said conduit, the ad ends of said slidingly associa teil conduit having their co-ope ranged to lap to a predete mined a position of junction of the suction with the vacuum chamber t d port, and ad justable means for stopping` the movement oi" said suction conduit terminal adapted to be adjusted to cause said co-operat' j ports to lap to less extent at the position oi separation. of said inlet port and third port.

In an apparatus for the purpose india chamber having a liquid inlet port and a liquid outlet port, and having a third port at the upper p rt; aA suction conduit arranged tor connection with a source oi' suction and having a 'terminal member With a suction inlet port, said suction conduit terminal being` mounted movably on the chamber; mean s arran fred to be operated by change of level of the liq 'fl content of the chamber associated With said movable suction conduit terminal ttor movingl the inlet port of the latter into and out ot junction with said third port ot the chamber at predetermined high and low levels respectively ot said liquid content, said suction conduit terminal being slidingly associated With the adjoining part oi said conduit, the adjoining ends oi said slidingly associated parts having their cooperating ports arranged to lap over a predetermined area at the position of junction olf the suction inlet port with the vacuum chamber third port, and adjustable means for stopping the movement of the suction conluit terminal away from said junction posiiion, arranged to be adjusted to limit said movement at a position at which said cooperating; ports lap to less than said predetermined area.

tion, and having a terminal member with a suction inlet port, said suction conduit terminal beingr mounted movably on the chamber; means arranged to be operated by change ot level of the liquid content oi the chamber associated with said movable suction conduit terminal for moving the inlet port of the latter into and out of junction with said third port oi the chamber at predetermined low and high levels respectively of said liquid content, said chamber having a limited portion of its Wall movable Without opening the Wall, and operating connections between said movable wall member and said suction conduit terminal for applyingr the movement of the former due to vacuum in the chamber, to said movable wall member in the direction 'for s-:eparating the suction inlet port from said third port of the chamber.

f5. In the construction deiined in claim 5, the area of said movable Wall member correspo-udine` to the area of said third portin the approximate degree necessary for causing the suction pull ot said movable Wall member inwardly with respect to the chamber to equalize the suction hold on the suction conduit terminal due to vacuum in the chamber.

7. In the construction defined in claim 5, the area of said movable Wall member corresponding to the area of said third port in the approximate degree necessary for causing` the suction pull of said movable wall member inwardly with respect to the chamber to equalize the suction hold on the suction conduit terminal due to vacuum in the cli amber, and a snap action device arranged 'for acting on said movable suction conduit terminal `for yieldingly resistingthe initial part ot' its movement in direction for separating the suction inlet portand the chamber third port.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 22nd day of October, 1929.

CHARLES S. BURTON.

llO 

